Book suggestion for dressing well in a business environment?
January 13, 2018 5:42 PM Subscribe
Can anyone suggest a book that discusses how to dress well in a business environment?
I work in an area of our office that leans more towards the formal end of the business-casual. I recently moved from an area of the company where people tended to dress more casually. The feedback I've received is that I'm still dressing too casually and that's holding me back from advancing to a role with more responsibility. I'm pretty lost when it comes to dressing more formally and wondering if there's a book that can help me to educate myself.
I work in an area of our office that leans more towards the formal end of the business-casual. I recently moved from an area of the company where people tended to dress more casually. The feedback I've received is that I'm still dressing too casually and that's holding me back from advancing to a role with more responsibility. I'm pretty lost when it comes to dressing more formally and wondering if there's a book that can help me to educate myself.
Response by poster: Male (sorry for forgetting to include that!)
posted by Proginoskes at 5:59 PM on January 13, 2018
posted by Proginoskes at 5:59 PM on January 13, 2018
So, I spent a year in a research lab that had a pretty similar dress code to what you're describing (mostly because there was always the chance of Sponsors showing up). I was lucky, in a way: I've basically dressed the way I needed to for that job for a long time now, and it wasn't an issue (I remember when HR was running me through intake, they asked if I ever wore jeans... I laughed, and told them I hadn't owned a pair in about fifteen years). I don't work in that lab anymore, but I still dress much the same way.
My general rule was button-up collared shirt, khakis, black formal shoes (I'm fond of slip-on loafers). Tie only on very, very rare occasions. I'll recommend Lands End for this kind of clothing - their quality is good, their measurements are usually accurate (and not inane vanity sizing) and their prices are reasonable. Also, if an article of clothing wears out unreasonably quickly, they'll refund/replace without batting an eye.
posted by Making You Bored For Science at 6:45 PM on January 13, 2018
My general rule was button-up collared shirt, khakis, black formal shoes (I'm fond of slip-on loafers). Tie only on very, very rare occasions. I'll recommend Lands End for this kind of clothing - their quality is good, their measurements are usually accurate (and not inane vanity sizing) and their prices are reasonable. Also, if an article of clothing wears out unreasonably quickly, they'll refund/replace without batting an eye.
posted by Making You Bored For Science at 6:45 PM on January 13, 2018
What do you tend to wear now?
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 7:03 PM on January 13, 2018
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 7:03 PM on January 13, 2018
Here’s your book: dress like the guy who has the job you want.
posted by MattD at 7:13 PM on January 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by MattD at 7:13 PM on January 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: It might help if you detailed what you typically wear, and what your peers and seniors are wearing. Books are helpful but every office environment has its own nuances and what's considered business casual in one office might be unacceptable in another business casual office.
This is not a book, it's a blog on menswear called Put This On - link is to an article about business casual which might be a starting point.
posted by bunderful at 8:42 PM on January 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
This is not a book, it's a blog on menswear called Put This On - link is to an article about business casual which might be a starting point.
posted by bunderful at 8:42 PM on January 13, 2018 [2 favorites]
Best answer: You're in a place where you're being judged on how well you have a grasp on the language of fashion. This is awesome - you can learn this language like any other!
Funny read, I am not sure how this has aged, but will give you a sense for this:
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: The Fab 5s Guide to Looking Better, Cooking Better, Dressing Better, Behaving Better, and Living Better
Go wander through the "Men's Grooming and Style" on Amazon if you haven't already.
Once you have a little more vocabulary for what style you need to convey, go look for a good men's consignment/resale store in your area - and tell them what you just told us.
posted by msamye at 9:44 PM on January 13, 2018
Funny read, I am not sure how this has aged, but will give you a sense for this:
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy: The Fab 5s Guide to Looking Better, Cooking Better, Dressing Better, Behaving Better, and Living Better
Go wander through the "Men's Grooming and Style" on Amazon if you haven't already.
Once you have a little more vocabulary for what style you need to convey, go look for a good men's consignment/resale store in your area - and tell them what you just told us.
posted by msamye at 9:44 PM on January 13, 2018
Best answer: I'm not aware of any books that aren't now out of date. My experience in the corporate workplace in the U.S. - 20+ years - is that we collectively went through a wave where everything got very, very informal in the late 90s, tightened up a little during the recession, then got informal again. Your question is hard to answer without knowing the industry you are in or the culture of your company.
Maybe this will help: every piece of clothing (shoes, pants, belt, shirt, jacket) is on a sliding scale of formality. Lace up shoes are more formal than loafers, which are more formal than tennis/running shoes. Wool slacks are more formal than khakis, which are more formal than jeans. A button up shirt is more formal than a polo shirt. A suit (where the jacket matches the pants) is more formal than a sportscoat. There are lots of sub-rules, like don't wear loafers with a suit. You want to figure out what the norms are for your workplace, match those norms, and make sure that all of the pieces of your outfits match up with the same level of formality. You don't need to learn all of those rules if you can figure out roughly what the right level is (e.g. are guys walking around in polos and khakis, or button downs and slacks, but no tie?). If you know roughly what kinds of shoes/pants/shirts you are looking for, you can go to any number of stores and get a sales person to help you get a bunch of stuff that goes together.
posted by kovacs at 12:16 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Maybe this will help: every piece of clothing (shoes, pants, belt, shirt, jacket) is on a sliding scale of formality. Lace up shoes are more formal than loafers, which are more formal than tennis/running shoes. Wool slacks are more formal than khakis, which are more formal than jeans. A button up shirt is more formal than a polo shirt. A suit (where the jacket matches the pants) is more formal than a sportscoat. There are lots of sub-rules, like don't wear loafers with a suit. You want to figure out what the norms are for your workplace, match those norms, and make sure that all of the pieces of your outfits match up with the same level of formality. You don't need to learn all of those rules if you can figure out roughly what the right level is (e.g. are guys walking around in polos and khakis, or button downs and slacks, but no tie?). If you know roughly what kinds of shoes/pants/shirts you are looking for, you can go to any number of stores and get a sales person to help you get a bunch of stuff that goes together.
posted by kovacs at 12:16 PM on January 14, 2018 [1 favorite]
Reddit's /r/malefashionadvice helped me transform my wardrobe. It takes effort, it takes time.
posted by rebent at 5:21 PM on January 14, 2018
posted by rebent at 5:21 PM on January 14, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by brainmouse at 5:50 PM on January 13, 2018